Today, more than 160,000 students attend Miami Dade College, a state-supported college with seven campuses and numerous outreach centers. We are the largest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most highly regarded colleges in the nation.

Each of our campuses has its own distinct identity and specialties. But they also offer a broad base of general education courses, allowing you to take first-year classes at any of our campuses (except the Medical Campus). That means you get to decide what campus you want to attend. Take all of your first-year classes at one campus, or follow the path of some of our working students and take morning classes near your home, and evening and weekend classes near your place of work. As you begin to take more advanced courses, you may need to focus your studies at a specific campus where your program is offered. To find out more about what each campus has to offer, here’s a quick snapshot:

North: Located on 245 acres in northern Miami Dade County, this beautifully landscaped campus was the College’s first. The campus offers unique programs, including The School of Justice (basic training for all police and correctional officers in Miami Dade County as well as more than half of the private security personnel) and The School of Fire and Environmental Sciences (provides training for all Miami Dade County firefighters and continuing education). Other signature programs include chemical and watershed management, funeral services (the only one of its kind in southeastern Florida), and the School of Entertainment Technologies.

Kendall: The Kendall campus is situated on a 185-acre tract of trees and lakes. In addition to being renowned for its Olympic-size swimming pool and talented swim team, Kendall offers distinct programs through its Environmental Center, Landscape Technology Program, Geology Museum and Demonstration Center, and Kendall Campus Art Gallery.

Wolfson: Located in Miami’s vibrant downtown, within the city’s financial, government, technological and cultural hubs, Wolfson offers programs in banking/financial services, business, computer technology, paralegal services, architecture, economics, hospitality management, engineering, the arts, humanities and social sciences. It is also home to the Emerging Technologies Center of the Americas, the New World School of the Arts, and is host to the Miami Book Fair International.

Medical Center: This 4.3-acre campus is located within the heart of the city’s medical/civic center complex. The campus offers specialty disciplines in nursing and allied health using state-of-the-art technologies. And it educates two-thirds of the newly graduated registered nurses in Miami Dade County. There are more than 20 allied health programs offered, including physicians assistant, opticianry, emergency medical technician, veterinary technology, physical therapist assistant, dental hygiene, and more.

Homestead: Located in the historic district of City of Homestead, the campus was expanded after Hurricane Andrew, and now is home to the Aviation Building, housing a simulator of an airport control tower and landing runways. The campus has academic programs such as aviation, entertainment technologies, arts and sciences, and nursing.

InterAmerican: This campus is located in the heart of Little Havana, one of the most colorful and lively neighborhoods in Miami’s historic Latin Quarter. This campus provides services to students in more than 200 programs. It is home to the College’s School of Education, now offering Bachelor’s degree programs in Secondary Mathematics Education, Exceptional Student Education, and Secondary Science Education in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science.

Hialeah Center: Hialeah offers day, evening, Saturday, and Sunday classes as well as complete student support services in admissions, registration, advisement, and financial aid. Since 1980, the campus has been serving the Hialeah community and Miami Dade County including the greater Hialeah Miami-Lakes area.

MDC-West: Our newest center, West is conveniently located right off the Florida Turnpike and NW 41st Street. To find out more about this campus, call: 305-237-8000 or visit http://www.mdc.edu/west/

A Rich History of Educational Innovation

Miami Dade was created with the idea that anyone with a desire to get a college degree should be given that opportunity. Miami Date first opened its doors in the 1960s, amidst the strain of desegregation and the influx of thousands of Cuban refugees. Initially, 1,428 students entered “Chicken Coop College,” nicknamed for the original buildings that were transformed into classrooms. Dade County Junior College, as it was known back then, was open to any county resident who had graduated from high school. When it opened, the College became Florida’s first integrated junior college. By the mid-1960s, enrollment had grown to more than 15,000 students. By 1967, the College was the largest institution of higher education in the state of Florida.

The next decade, Miami Dade further increased its expectation of students, setting a new standard for community colleges throughout the nation. It was during this time that K. Patricia Cross, visiting professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, called Miami Dade, “the most exciting institution of higher education in the country.” Almost 66 percent were minorities and 56 percent were women. Part-time students were common. In 1984, Miami Dade started Books by the Bay, which evolved into the Miami Book Fair International.

The next two decades were marked by comprehensive reforms of academic programs, as well as the creation of more than 50 new degree and short-term certificate training programs. Miami Dade also introduced multimedia classrooms and the Virtual College, followed by the prestigious Honors College and the Emerging Technologies Center of the America’s (ETCOTA), as well as took on management of the reinvigorated Miami International Film Festival. In 2003, Miami Dade also introduced four-year degrees, and changed its name to Miami Dade College.

Miami Dade College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, marital status, age, religion, national origin,
disability, veteranï¿½s status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator, at 305.237.2577 for information.